Connection lug

ABSTRACT

A connection lug comprises an electrically conductive body, an electrically conductive blade connector extending from a first end of the body, and a cable hole located in a second end of the body configured to receive a cable. A clamping cam in the connection lug may rotate inside of the body and clamp against the cable. A screw hole may be configured to receive a clamping screw. A portion of the clamping cam may extend into the screw hole and insertion of the clamping screw into the screw hole may push against the portion of the clamping cam and rotate the clamping cam into the cable hole.

The present application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 13/301,720, entitled OVERVOLTAGE PROTECTION SYSTEM FOR WIRELESSCOMMUNICATION SYSTEMS, filed Nov. 21, 2011 that claims priority to U.S.Provisional Application No. 61/440,609, entitled MODULAR OVERVOLTAGEPROTECTION SYSTEM FOR WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS, filed Feb. 8,2011; and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No.12/984,304, entitled OVERVOLTAGE PROTECTION FOR REMOTE RADIO HEAD-BASEDWIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS, filed Jan. 4, 2011 that claims priorityto U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/363,967, filed Jul. 13, 2010;which are all herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

Latest generation wireless communications systems, referred to asdistributed antenna systems (DAS), distributed DC radio systems, remoteradio heads (RRH), 4G and long term evolution (LTE) cellularcommunication systems, now commonly locate the radios next to theantennas on the tower outside of the communications shelter. In thesenext-generation facilities, the baseband system module that controls theradio traffic is still located at the ground level shelter, but theactual radios are separated from the controllers up to several hundredfeet and controlled by fiber optic links. The radios are powereddirectly by DC feeds from the DC power plant that extend up the towerand to the radios. In some cases, the DC cables and fiber optic cablesare run separately up the tower and in other cases they are all bundledtogether in one large hybrid cable.

The radios located outside of the communications shelter on top of thetower are much more susceptible to damage from lighting strikes andother electrical power surge events. Individual power lines are run toeach individual radio also increasing the amount of power cablingexposed to power surge events. Thus, the DC power plant andtelecommunication equipment at communication stations with distributedpower have more risk of being damaged due to direct lighting strikes andpower surges.

Overview

A rack mountable surge suppression unit provides local in-line surgesuppression protection for the electrical equipment located in thecommunication station. A unique surge suppression tray is hot swappableso that multiple surge suppression devices can be replaced at the sametime without disrupting radio operation. A connection panel in the rackmountable surge suppression unit provides a common relatively shortin-line contact point between the surge suppression devices in the trayand different power cables that are distributed out to the differentradios.

Individual connection lugs may be used in the connection panel. Theconnection lugs provide a unique in-line pluggable interface between thesurge suppression tray and the connection panel that allow the surgesuppression devices to be insertably attached to the power cables. Theconnection lugs also allow the power cables to be more easily insertedand attached to the connection panel in a reduced front face footprint.The connection lugs are not limited to use with surge suppressiondevices and can be used for connecting to any type of electrical ornon-electrical cable, wire, line, or the like, or any combinationthereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a surge suppression system for a remote radio head-basedwireless communication system.

FIG. 2 shows the surge suppression system of FIG. 1 in more detail.

FIG. 3 shows a dome shaped surge suppression unit used in the surgesuppression system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows the surge suppression unit of FIG. 3 with a lid removed.

FIG. 5 shows a portion of a surge suppression assembly contained in thesurge suppression unit of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the surge suppression unit of FIG. 3 with thelid removed.

FIG. 7 is a perspective rear view of the surge suppression unit of FIG.6.

FIG. 8 is a rear elevation view of the surge suppression unit of FIG. 7.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show a fiber optic cable tray in more detail.

FIG. 11 shows a rack mountable surge suppression unit from FIG. 1 inmore detail.

FIG. 12 shows a back end of the surge suppression unit shown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 shows a surge suppression tray for the surge suppression unitshown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 14 shows how a power terminal assembly in the surge suppressionunit is connected to the surge suppression tray.

FIG. 15 shows an exploded view of the power terminal assembly.

FIG. 16 shows an assembled partial view of the power terminal assembly.

FIG. 17 is a rear elevation view of the power terminal assembly.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the surge suppression tray with a tophood removed.

FIG. 19 is an exploded partial view of a surge suppression modulelocated in the surge suppression tray.

FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram for the surge suppression modules of FIG.19.

FIG. 21 shows an alternative embodiment of a rectangular shaped externalsurge suppression unit used in the surge suppression system of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 22 and 23 shows a latching mechanism used with the surgesuppression unit of FIG. 21.

FIG. 24 shows an exploded view of the surge suppression unit in FIG. 21.

FIG. 25A shows a perspective view of an enclosure base of the surgesuppression unit of FIG. 21.

FIG. 25B shows a perspective view of an alternative port based versionof the enclosure base of the surge suppression unit of FIG. 21.

FIG. 26 is a partial view of the interior bottom walls for the surgesuppression unit of FIG. 21

FIG. 27 is a sectional elevation view of the bottom walls shown in FIG.26.

FIGS. 28A and 28B are sectional plan views of ports extending throughthe bottom walls.

FIG. 29 is an exploded view of a surge suppression module contained inthe surge suppression unit of FIG. 21.

FIG. 30 is an exploded view of a surge suppression module of FIG. 29.

FIG. 31 is front sectional view of the surge suppression module.

FIG. 32 shows a rack mountable surge suppression unit.

FIG. 33 shows a back end of the surge suppression unit shown in FIG. 32.

FIG. 34 shows a surge suppression tray for the surge suppression unitshown in FIG. 32.

FIG. 35 shows how a connection panel in the surge suppression unit isconnected to the surge suppression tray.

FIG. 36 shows an exploded view of the connection panel.

FIG. 37 shows an assembled partial view of the connection panel.

FIG. 38 is a rear elevation view of the connection panel.

FIG. 39 is a perspective view of the surge suppression tray with a topcover removed.

FIG. 40 is an isolated view of the surge suppression assembly located inthe tray of FIG. 39.

FIG. 41 is an exploded view of a blind mate inline connector used in thesurge suppression assembly of FIG. 40.

FIG. 42 is side sectional plan view of the blind mate inline connectorof FIG. 41.

FIG. 43 is a side sectional elevation view of the surge suppression unitshown in FIG. 32

FIG. 44 is an exploded perspective view of a surge suppression modulelocated in the surge suppression tray of FIG. 39.

FIG. 45 is a front sectional view of the suppression module of FIG. 43.

FIG. 46 is a front perspective view of a modular surge suppression unit.

FIG. 47 shows suppression modules removed from the surge suppressionunit of FIG. 46.

FIG. 48 is a rear perspective view of a suppression module in FIG. 47.

FIG. 49 shows the internal components of the suppression module of FIG.48.

FIG. 50A is front perspective view of the internal components shown inFIG. 49.

FIG. 50B is an exploded view for some of the components shown in FIG.50A.

FIG. 51 is a rear perspective view of the surge suppression unit of FIG.46.

FIG. 52 shows a partially disassembled view of a connection panel.

FIG. 53 is a side sectional view of the surge suppression unit of FIG.46.

FIGS. 54A and 54B are side sectional views of lugs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Several preferred examples of the present application will now bedescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings. Various otherexamples of the invention are also possible and practical. Thisapplication may be exemplified in many different forms and should not beconstrued as being limited to the examples set forth herein.

FIG. 1 illustrates one example of a surge suppression system 12 thatprovides surge suppression for a distributed wireless communicationstation. FIG. 2 shows some of the elements of the surge suppressionsystem of FIG. 1 in more detail. Referring both to FIGS. 1 and 2, abuilding 32 contains computing equipment for a base transceiver station(BTS) 24. The communication station 24 is connected through fiber opticcables 22 to different radios 18 located on the top of a tower 14. ADirect Current (DC) power plant 28 is connected through a DC power bus26 and DC power cables 20 to the different radios 18 on tower 14. Thepower bus 26 includes pairs of power cables 230 and 236 that aredescribed in more detail below. The power cables 20 include sets of −48DC volt power lines, return lines, and associated ground lines thatextend out of the building 32 and run up the tower 14 to differentassociated radios 18. The radios 18 are connected to associated antennas16.

This is just one example of a distributed communication system that usesthe surge suppression system 12. It should be understood that the surgesuppression system 12 can be used with any communication system or anyother electrical system that may require overvoltage protection.

A dome shaped surge suppression unit 30 is attached to a support 72 onthe top of the tower 14 and is connected to the ends of the power cables20 proximate to the radios 18 and antennas 16. In one embodiment, thesurge suppression unit 30 is located within 2 meters of the radios 18. Arack based surge suppression unit 40 is located inside of the building32 and is connected to the opposite end of the power cables 20relatively close to the DC power plant 28 and communication station 24.In one embodiment, the surge suppression unit 40 is located in a rack 25that also contains the DC power plant 28. In an alternative embodiment,the surge suppression unit 40 is located in another rack or some otherlocation next to power plant 28.

The radios 18 can be located outside of the building 32 at the bottom ofthe tower 14. In this arrangement, the surge suppression unit 40 maystill be located in the rack 25. However, the surge suppression unit 30may or may not be used for connecting to the opposite ends of the powercables 20 outside of the building 32.

In another communication station configuration, the radios 18 andassociated antennas 16 are located at different corners on the roof of abuilding. Individual surge suppression boxes can be connected toindividual power lines 20 close to the different radios 18 on the roofof the building. Each of the boxes may contain surge suppression devicesfor one or a few power cables and associated radios. In thisconfiguration the surge suppression unit 40 may still be used but surgesuppression boxes located on the roof may be configured differently thanthe dome shaped surge suppression units 30 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

In another configuration the radios 18 and antennas 16 are again locatedat different corners on a roof of a building. The power cables 20 andfiber optic cables 22 are run into the building and connected to thepower plant 28 and communication station 24, respectively, locatedwithin a room of the building. In one embodiment, individual surgesuppression boxes are connected to the individual power cables 20 andlocated next to the associated radios 18 on the roof of the building. Aseparate fiber/power connector on the top of the building provides ajunction between the power lines 20 and fiber optic cables 22 extendinginside the building and jumper cables that connect to the radios 18.

In another embodiment where the different radios 18 are locatedrelatively close to each other, the dome shaped surge suppression unit30 may be used both for containing surge suppression devices and as thejunction box for the fiber optic cable jumpers that are distributed outto the radios 18. In another embodiment, the dome shaped enclosure ofunit 30 may only be used as a junction box for the power cables 20and/or fiber optic cables 22. The same rack mountable surge suppressionunit 40 may be located in the building 32 and may have a same ordifferent surge suppression configuration than the configurations shownin FIGS. 1 and 2.

External Surge Suppression Unit

FIG. 3 shows in more detail the surge suppression unit 30 previouslyshown in FIGS. 1 and 2. A dome shaped plastic lid 60 sits over a baseunit 64 that is shown in more detail in FIGS. 4-6. A ring clamp 62provides a weather tight seal between the lid 60 and the base unit 64.In one embodiment, the entire suppression unit 30 is around 24 inches or610 millimeters (mm) tall and has a diameter of around 11 inches oraround 280 mm. Of course the suppression unit 30 can be other dimensionsaccording to different surge suppression requirements.

The top of radio towers may have strict wind load, weight, and spacelimitations. The aerodynamic cylindrical shape of the dome lid 60reduces wind load that the suppression unit 30 applies to tower 18 inFIG. 1. However, the lid 60 could also have other shapes such as anoval, rounded edge square, triangle, or any other shape that hasrelatively low wind resistance. One alternative shape is shown below inFIG. 21.

The lid 60 is vertically elongated to increase the amount of internalspace available for containing surge suppression devices and fiber opticconnectors. The surge suppression unit 30 also has a relatively smalldiameter to conserve space and further reduce wind load at the top oftower 14. In other embodiments where more space is available, the lid 60may be shorter and have a larger diameter.

A mounting bracket 66 includes clamps 68 that attached to the supportpole 72. The clamps 68 hold the mounting bracket 66 perpendicularly outfrom the side of the pole 72 on the tower 14 in FIG. 1. The bracket 66has a mounting platform 46 with a circular ring shape that forms acircular internal opening 67 (FIG. 4) for receiving the circular baseunit 64. A wiring bracket 70 extends underneath the mounting platform46. Tie downs 71 are inserted into holes 73 in the wiring bracket 70 andused for securing the power cables 20 and fiber optic cables 22 thatextend down from the bottom of base unit 64. Alternatively, the mountingbracket 66 could attach to a wall bracket or to a pole that extends upfrom the top of a roof. The mounting bracket 66 allows the surgesuppression unit 30 to be mounted in a vertical elevated position in alarge number of different support structures.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the surge suppression unit 30 with thelid 60 removed. The two clamps 68 of mounting bracket 66 attach throughbolts 44 to a back plate 42. The back plate 42 is aligned vertically andthe mounting platform 46 extends horizontally out from the top of backplate 42. At mentioned above, the ring formed by mounting platform 46forms a partial circular opening 67 that receives the base unit 64. Twovertical arms 48 extend down between opposite ends of the mountingplatform 46 and opposite ends of the wiring bracket 70.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view showing one of multiple surge suppressionassemblies 98 located inside of the surge suppression unit 30. Referringto FIGS. 4 and 5, a wall divider 80 extends vertically up from themiddle of base unit 64 and forms two different chambers inside of thelid 60. Two columns of three surge suppression assemblies 98 are alignedvertically and in parallel next to each other on the power side of thedivider wall 80.

Each surge assembly 98 includes a set of three bus bars 122, 124 and 128connected to a pair of vertically stacked surge suppression devices 100Aand 100B. In one embodiment, the surge suppression devices 100A and 100Bhave a cylindrical disc shaped. One example of the surge suppressiondevices 100 is the Strikesorb® surge suppression module manufactured byRaycap Corporation, 151 24 Marousi, Athens Greece. However, any type andshape of surge suppression device 100 can be used and the bus bars 122,124, and 128 can be configured to connect together other types andshapes of surge suppression devices.

A ground terminal 134 connects to ground lines 50 in the power cables 20(see FIG. 6). The ground terminal 134 is electrically coupled to analuminum ground plate 81 that forms part of the wall divider 80. Theground plate 81 includes three pairs of tabs 128 that extend up from thebottom of three rectangular openings 52. The tabs 128 are bent 90degrees into a horizontal position to form the ground bus bars 128 ofthe surge suppression assemblies 98. The ground plate 81 electricallycouples together all the ground bus bars 128 and ground cables 50. Thisunique grounding configuration reduces the number of ground wires andother components used in the surge suppression unit 30.

The ground bus bars 128 operate as support platforms or shelves for thesurge suppression assemblies 98 and allow the different components ofthe surge suppression assemblies 98 to be easily added or removed fromthe surge suppression unit 30. Each bus bar 128 extends horizontally andperpendicularly out from the side of the ground plate 81 and supports apair of surge suppression devices 100A and 100B in a vertical stackedalignment. A connecting member 130 extends out of the bottom end ofsurge suppression device 100B and slides into a slot 129 formed in thebus bar 128. A nut 132 engages with a threaded end of connecting member130 mechanically and electrically coupling the bottom end of surgesuppression device 100B to the bus bar 128.

A bottom end of surge suppression device 110A and a top end of surgesuppression device 100B each include holes 139 that receive a connectingmember 138. The connecting member 138 inserts through a hole 135 inreturn bus bar 124 and mechanically and electrically couple the bottomend of surge suppression device 110A and the top end of surgesuppression device 100B to return bus bar 124. A bolt or screw 136inserts through a hole 141 in bus bar 122 and screws into a hole 137 inthe top of the surge suppression device 100A electrically andmechanically coupling a top end of the surge suppression device 100A tothe bus bar 122.

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of the suppression unit 30 with the lid60 removed. A first terminal 120A on the bus bar 122 is connected to a−48 VDC power line 140A contained in one of the power cables 20 thatconnect to the power plant 28 in FIG. 1. A second terminal 120B on busbar 122 is connected to a second −48 VDC jumper power line 140B thatconnects to one of the radios 18 in FIG. 1. A first terminal 126A on thereturn bus bar 124 connects to a positive or return power line 142A thatis also connected at the other end to the power plant 28 in FIG. 1. Asecond terminal 126B on return bus bar 124 is connected to apositive/return jumper power line 142B that connects to the same radio18 connected to line 140B.

The unique arrangement of the vertically elongated ground plate 81 andthe horizontally extending ground bus bars 128 allow multiple pairs ofthe surge suppression devices 100 to be supported vertically on top ofeach other in two columns. This compact design allows all of the surgesuppression components to be supported on a single side of the dividerwall 80 and only extend out from the ground plate 81 little more thanthe width of the surge suppression devices 100. In an alternativeembodiment, the surge suppression devices 100 may be connected on bothsides of divider wall 80.

Pairs of surge suppression devices 100A and 100B are readily accessibleand easily removed and replaced by simply disconnecting the power lines140 and 142 from the terminals 120 and 126, respectively. The bottomsurge suppression device 100B can then be removed from ground bus bar128. As mentioned above, the surge suppression devices 100A and 100B arealigned vertically one deep on divider wall 80 in two vertically alignedcolumns. This allows any individual surge suppression device 100, or anysuppression assembly 98, to be easily replaced without obstruction byany other surge suppression devices 100. The surge suppression devices110 and assemblies 98 can also be removed without disrupting operationof any other surge suppression assemblies 98. This easy accessibility isbeneficial when maintenance operations are performed on the top of atower 14 in FIG. 1 by technicians with limited mobility.

Multiple ports 90 and 91 extend down from the bottom of the base unit64. The ports 90 and 91 receive the different power cables 20 and fiberoptic cables 22 from the power plant 28, communication station 24, andradios 18 shown in FIG. 1. In one embodiment, the ports 90 compriseconduits 54 made from a semi-flexible polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe.

The different lengths of conduit 54 allow a larger number of ports 90 toextend out of the bottom of the circular base unit 64 and also allowrelatively easy access by a technician. For example, the variablelengths allow a technician to more easily insert the cables 20 and 22into the ports 90 and attach caps 56 onto the end of conduits 54. Theelongated ports 90 also provide a long barrier zone between the internalchamber of the suppression unit 30 and the outside environment.

Each of the ports 90 has a circular cross sectional shape and contains agasket 55 that receives the power cables 20 or fiber optic cables 22.The cables 20 or 22 are inserted along with the gasket 55 into the ports90 and are then screwed tight inside of the conduits 54 by the caps 56.One of the ports 90 may receive an alarm monitoring cable 34. Otherports 91 have an oval cross-section shape and also extend down onopposite sides of the base unit 64 and receive some of the power cables20 and/or fiber optic cables 22.

The suppression unit 30 has enough ports 90 and 91 to receive sixdifferent sets of power cables 20 for powering six different radios 18.In one embodiment there are two rows of four ports 90 that extend downfrom base unit 64 on opposite sides of the divider wall 80. There arealso two oval ports 91 that extend down from the base unit 64 fromopposite sides of the divider wall 80. However, any combination of ports90 and 91 could be provided and any of the unused ports can be covered awaterproof cap 56 until needed.

FIGS. 4 and 6 also show monitoring devices 148 coupled between the twobus bars 122 and 124. The monitoring devices 148 activate a switch whenthe surge suppression device 100A is shorted to ground or otherwisefails. The monitoring devices 148 are daisy chained together by cable 34and attach to alarm terminals 150 at the bottom of the ground plate 81.Individual LEDs 154 on each of the monitoring devices 148 allow atechnician to determine which pairs of surge suppression devices 100Aand 100B are functional. The wires in the alarm monitoring cable 34 arerun from terminal 150 either back to an annunciation device in building32 in FIG. 1 or to one of the radios 18 that can then send a signal backover one of the fiber optic cables 22 to a monitoring system.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the of the suppression unit 30 showingthe fiber side of the divider wall 80. FIG. 8 shows the fiber side ofthe divider wall 80 populated with fiber optic cables 22A and 22B.Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the fiber optic cables 22A from thecommunication station 24 in FIG. 1 extend up through one of the ports 90or 91 and the base unit 64. The fiber optic cables 22A wrap partiallyaround one or more of spools 74. Connectors 112A at the end of thecables 22A snap into a first end of adapters 113 that are held in aconnector tray 110.

Connectors 112B on a first end of fiber optic jumper cables 22B snapinto a second end of the adapters 113 that are contained on connectortray 110. The fiber optic jumper cables 22B extend from connectors 112Baround one or more of the spools 74, down through the bottom of baseunit 64 and through another port 90 or 91, and connect to one of theradios 18 in FIG. 1. The spools 74 relieve some of the pressure on thefiber optic cables 22 and are also used to take up extra cable length.Retainers 76 hold the fiber optic cables within the fiber side ofdivider wall 80.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show the connector tray 110 in more detail. The adapters113 seat into holes 117 located in two different arms 116A and 116B ofthe connector tray 110. The first arm 116A of the tray 110 is rigidlyattached to the fiber side of the divider wall 80. The second arm 116Bof the tray 110 rotates about a pin 114 that is rigidly attached to thelateral end of the first arm 116A. The second arm 116B can be rotatedout in a 90 degree perpendicular relationship from the first arm 116A.

After installation of the fiber optic connectors 112A and 112B intoopposite ends of the adapters 113, arm 116B is rotated about pin 114into a parallel abutted alignment with arm 116A. A threaded screw orlatch 118 is attached to the end of arm 116B and inserts and locks intoa hole 119 on the lateral end of arm 116A.

The connector tray 110 when in the unlocked 90 degree position in FIG.10 allows a technician to more easily install and maintain the fiberoptic cables 22. In the locked position of FIG. 9, the arms 116A and116B abut lengthwise against each other to reduce the overall distancethe tray 110 extends out from divider wall 80. In the folded latchedposition, the tray 110 extends only a small distance out from dividerwall 80. This allows the dome shaped lid 60 in FIG. 3 to have a smallerdiameter. Thus, the surge suppression unit 30 can retain a large numberof fiber optic cable connectors 112 in a relatively small tubularfootprint.

The connector tray 110 is shown with three parallel rows of holes 117for retaining the adapters 113. However the tray 110 could have fewerrows or more rows of holes 117 for retaining fewer or more fiber opticcables 22. The fiber optic cables 22 can be installed in the connectortray 110 during initial installation of the suppression unit 30 on thetower 14 in FIG. 1 and used later as back-up or when additional radios18 are installed.

Technicians can install the fiber optic jumper cables 22B and the powerjumper cables 140B and 142B (FIG. 6) when the suppression unit 30 isinitially installed on the tower 14 even before the radios 18 areinstalled. The technician can then climb up the tower 14 at a later timeand attach the previously installed fiber optic jumper cables 22B andpower jumper cables 140B and 142B in the suppression unit 30 todifferent radios 18.

In an alternative embodiment, both sides of the divider wall 80 areconfigured to support and connect surge suppression assemblies 98similar to what is shown in FIG. 6. In this configuration the surgesuppression unit 30 contains up to twelve surge suppression assemblies98 for attaching to twelve different power cables 20. In anotheralternative embodiment, both sides of the divider wall 80 are configuredto support and connect fiber optic cables 22 similar to what is shown inFIG. 8. In this configuration each side of wall 80 retains a fiber opticconnector tray 110.

Rack Mounted Surge Suppression

FIG. 11 shows a front perspective view of the rack based surgesuppression unit 40 previously shown in FIG. 1. The surge suppressionunit 40 includes a frame 200 that connects to a rack or supportstructure 25 such as the same one used for supporting the DC power plant28 shown in FIG. 1. The rear end of the frame 200 supports a powerterminal assembly 202 and a front end of the frame 200 supports a surgesuppression tray 204. The front of the surge suppression unit 40includes a series of light emitting diodes (LEDs) 207 that are activatedbased on the operational state of surge suppression devices contained inthe tray 204.

Mounting brackets 224 attach at the front, back, or middle sides of theframe 200 and attach at the rack or other support structure 25. Forexample, a first set of brackets 224 may be used at a first location fora 19 inch rack and a second different set of brackets 224 may be used ata second location for a 23 inch rack.

The surge suppression tray 204 has the advantage of having aconventional Rack Unit (RU) form factor that in one embodiment is a 2RUenclosure 209 that can fit into a 19 inch or 23 inch rack configuration.This allows the surge suppression unit 40 to be mounted in the same rack25 that holds the electronic circuitry for the power plant 28 and/orholds the telecommunication circuitry for the BTS 24 shown in FIG. 1.This allows the surge suppression unit 40 to be connected closer to thepower plant 28 and telecommunication circuitry 24. The surge suppressionunit 40 can be mounted onto any other rack or other structure that maybe housed in the building 32 shown in FIG. 1, uses minimal space, anddoes not require a special mounting structure or rack.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the frame 200 and power terminalassembly 202. The frame 200 includes side walls 218 that are connectedtogether at a back end by a back wall 208. Bottom ends of walls 208 and218 extend horizontally inward forming a ledge 229 that supports thetray 204 in FIG. 11. The back wall 208 includes openings for receivingconnectors 226 and 228 that extend out from the power terminal assembly202.

FIG. 13 is a perspective isolated view of the surge suppression tray204. The tray 204 contains surge suppression modules 260 (FIG. 18) thatprovide surge suppression for the electrical equipment located in thestructure 32 in FIG. 1. The tray 204 has a rectangular shaped enclosure209 that slides into, and is supported by, the frame 200 in FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a partial exploded perspective rear view of the rackmountable surge suppression unit 40. The tray 204 is shown detached in aspaced apart position with respect to the power terminal assembly 202.In an operational position, the back of tray 204 is slid back againstthe power terminal assembly 202. The blind mate connectors 206 and 246on the back end of tray 204 slidingly insert into mating connectors 226and 228 in FIG. 12, respectively that extend out of the front end ofpower terminal assembly 202.

The power terminal assembly 202 provides a common in-line connectivitypoint for the surge suppression modules 260 contained in the tray 204.This unique in-line connectivity also allows the tray 204 and internalsurge suppression devices to be detached from power lines 20 while thepower lines are energized without disrupting operation of the radios 18in FIG. 1 (hot swappable). Multiple surge suppression units can beremoved, replaced, and reattached from the power lines 20 all at thesame time simply by connecting or disconnecting tray 204 to or frompower terminal assembly 202.

FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of the power terminal assembly202. A housing 210 receives upper and lower connector strips 212 thatare shown in more detail below. Terminals 213 extend out from a back endof the connector strips 212. Pairs of upper and immediately lowerterminals 213A, 213B and 213C, 213D are shorted together. Insulatorblocks 214 include walls 215 that align between the vertical pairs ofterminals 213.

Connector rods 217 connect the terminal pairs 213A, 213B and 213C, 213Dto threaded pins or screws 216 that extend out of a circuit board 211.Etched conductors 220 connect the pins or screws 216 to contact holes222 that extend through the circuit board 211. The contact holes 222receive and connect to pins or sockets 223 contained in the connectors226 and 228 that extend out the back wall 208 of frame 200. Ground rods219 are attached at one end to a ground plane of the circuit board 211,extend through the insulator blocks 214, and connect to a groundterminal 221. Alarm socket 205 connects to monitoring circuits 280 shownbelow and extends out the back face of housing 210.

FIG. 16 shows a partial assembled view of the power terminal assembly202. The ground rods 219 provide a ground connection from groundterminal 221 to the ground plane on the circuit board 211. The connectorrods 217 provide separate power connections from different pairs ofshorted terminals 213A, 213B and 213C, 213D to different pins or screws216 on the circuit board 211. The etched conductors 220 on the circuitboard 211 electrically connect the pins or screws 216 to the contactholes 222. The contact holes 222 then electrically connect tocorresponding sockets or pins 223 in connectors 226 and 228 (FIG. 15).

FIG. 17 shows a rear elevation view of the power terminal assembly 202.A first lower row of terminals 213A connect to different −48 v powerline jumpers 230 connected to the power plant 28 in FIG. 1. A second rowof terminals 213B are shorted to immediately lower ten finals 213A inthe first row and connect to one of the −48 v power lines 140A in powercable 20 that connect to the external surge suppression unit 30 in FIG.1.

A third row of terminals 213C connect to the different −48 v powerreturn jumper lines 236 that connect to the power plant 28 shown inFIG. 1. A fourth row of terminals 213D are shorted to the immediatelylower terminal 213C in the third row. The terminals 213D connect toassociated −48 v return/positive power lines 142A in one of the powercables 20 that connect to the surge suppression unit 30 in FIG. 1.

Each lower row of terminals 213A, 213B, and 213C is set back from theimmediately upper row. This allows a relatively large number of powerterminals 213 to extend out the back end of the relatively short heightof a 2RU frame 200.

Each separate vertical column of terminals 213A, 213B, 213C, and 213D isassociated with the power cable 20 connected to a different radio 18 inFIG. 1. There are 12 terminal sets 213A-D that extend out the back ofthe terminal assembly 202 that can each connect to a different powercable 20 for powering a different one of the radios 18. For example, thefirst terminal set 213A-213D on the far left may be associated with afirst power cable 20 that is connected to a first radio 18.

For effective surge suppression protection, surge suppression devicesmay be located relatively close to the protected electrical circuitry.The rack mountable power terminal assembly 202 provides a commonconnection location for the surge suppression devices to connect todifferent power lines and allows surge suppression devices to be closelymounted on the same rack 25 in FIG. 11 that contains DC power plant 28and/or communication station 24. As also explained above, detachablyconnecting the tray 204 in FIG. 13 to the power terminal assembly 202also allows the surge suppression modules in the tray 204 to be moreeasily connected and disconnected from different power lines.

The terminal assembly 202 provides unique “in-line” connectivity betweenthe power lines 140A, 142A, 230, and 236 and the surge suppressionmodules in tray 204. The power lines 230 and 236 come into the terminalassembly 202 from the DC power plant 28. The power lines 140A and 142Ago out from the terminal assembly 202 through the power cables 20 to theradios 18. This allows the surge suppression devices in tray 204 toreceive power from the power lines 230 and 236 before the power isdirected out through power lines 140A and 142A to the radios 18. Thisin-line feature prevents having to use “T” wiring configurations thatare separately run from the power cables to the surge suppressiondevices. The in-line feature provides controlled, consistent,repeatable, and relatively close connectivity between the surgesuppression devices in tray 204 and the DC power supply 28.

FIG. 18 shows a front perspective view of the rack mountable tray 204with a top hood removed. A bottom floor 252 holds two surge suppressionmodules 260 alternatively referred to as “six packs.” The two surgesuppression modules 260 each include three pairs of surge suppressiondevices 250A and 250B. In other configurations each module 260 couldhave more or fewer than three pairs of surge suppression devices 250. Inone embodiment, the surge suppression devices 250 are the same as thesurge suppression devices 100 used in the surge suppression unit 30described above. However, other types of surge suppression devices canalso be used.

The modules 260 are screwed down to the bottom floor 252 of tray 204. Afirst cable 266 has a first end connected to a terminal 264 and a secondend that includes a pin or socket 254A that snaps into one of theconnectors 206 that extend out the back of tray 204. A second cable 268is connected at a first end to a terminal 262 and connected at a secondend to a pin or socket 254B that inserts into another one of theconnectors 206 that extend out the back of tray 204. The terminal 262connects to a bus bar 274 that has a first portion that extends over atop end of surge suppression device 250B, a second portion that extendsvertically up between surge suppression devices 250A and 250B, and athird section that connects to a bottom side of surge suppression device250A.

Similar cables 266 and 268 are connected to the other pairs of surgesuppression devices 250A and 250B that are contained within the samesuppression module 260. A first end of a ground cable 288 connects to aground bus bar 276. A second end of ground cable 288 includes a socketor pin 254C that snaps into the push connector 246 that extends out ofthe back end of the tray 204.

The blind mate in-line push connectors 206 extend out of a back end ofthe tray 204 and the pins or sockets 254 insert into or receive theblind mate in-line push connectors 226 that extend out from the backwall of the frame 200 as shown in FIG. 12. The blind mate in-line pushconnector 246 extends out of the back end of the tray 204 and connectswith the blind mate in-line connector 228 that extends out the back wallof the frame 200 in FIG. 12. The connectors 206 and 246 can be easilymodified with additional pins or sockets when additional surgesuppression modules 260 are added to tray 204. Other types of connectorsthat allow easy attachment and detachment between the power terminalassembly 202 and tray 204 can also be used.

Only two surge suppression modules 260 are shown in FIG. 18. However thetray 204 can be quickly upgraded to add one or two more additional surgesuppression modules 260 and provide surge suppression for an additionalthree or six power cables 20. The connectors 206 can receive the cables266 and 268 for four different surge suppression modules 260. Eachmodule 260 includes three pairs of surge suppression devices 250A and250B that provide surge suppression for three different power cables.Thus, the tray 204 can provide surge suppression for twelve differentpower cables 20. Because the surge suppression devices 250 areconfigured in modules 260, six different surge suppression devices 250(3 different pairs) can be removed or added to the tray 204 at the sametime.

When the tray 204 is inserted into frame 200, the connectors 206 and 246align and mate with the connectors 226 and 228, respectively, thatextend out the back wall of frame 200 (FIG. 12). Thus, all of the surgesuppression modules 260 and associated surge suppression devices 250Aand 250B that are contained in tray 204 are connected to multipledifferent power lines all at the same time simply by plugging tray 204into the power terminal assembly 202.

The monitoring circuits 280 are mounted between a bus bar 272 and busbar 274 and connect to the top of each pair of surge suppression devices250A and 250B. The monitoring circuits 280 are connected via clips 284to a panel 282 that contains the LEDs 207 that extend out the front oftray 204 and identify the operational state for different pairs of surgesuppression devices 250A and 250B.

The LEDs 207 on the front face of the tray 204 are activated when thesurge suppression modules 260 are in a powered and operational state.Sets of three radios may be associated with a same frequency. Sets ofthree LEDs 207 can be associated with the three pairs of surgesuppression devices connected to the three power cables 20 powering thethree radios having the same frequency. Of course other LED andfrequency configurations could also be used.

FIG. 19 shows an exploded perspective view for one pair of surgesuppression devices 250A and 250B in one of the surge suppressionmodules 260. The first bus bar 272 connects terminal 264 and one of the−48 v power lines 266 to the top end of surge suppression device 250A.The z-shaped second bus bar 274 connects horizontally to the bottom endof surge suppression device 250A, extends vertically up between surgesuppression devices 250A and 250B, and then extends and connectshorizontally to a top end of surge suppression device 250B. The secondbus bar 274 also connects to one of the return power lines 268 in FIG.18 through terminal 262. The ground bus bar 276 is connected to thebottom end of surge suppression device 250B and mechanically holdstogether the three pairs of surge suppression devices in the surgesuppression module 260. A mounting bar 278 attaches to the bottom of busbar 274 and also holds the three pairs of surge suppression devices 250in the module 260 together.

FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram that shows in more detail how thedifferent components in the surge suppression unit 40 are connectedtogether. FIG. 20 shows surge suppression circuitry and mechanicalconnections for one pair of surge suppression devices for connecting toone power cable 20. However, any number of surge suppression devices 250and corresponding surge suppression circuits similar to that shown inFIG. 20 can be contained in tray 204.

The power lines 230 and 140A connect to the terminals 213A and 213B,respectively. As mentioned above, the two terminals 213A and 213B areshorted together. A connector rod 217A connects a back end of theterminal pair 213A and 213B to a pin or socket in one of the connectors226 that extends out from the back wall of frame 200. The power lines236 and 142A connect to terminals 213C and 213D, respectively. A secondconnector rod 217B connects the back of the terminals 213C and 213D toanother socket or pin in one of the connectors 226.

A first end of the surge suppression device 250A connects to the −48 vpower line from connector rod 217A. A second end of surge suppressiondevice 250A connects to a first end of the second surge suppressiondevice 250B, the return voltage from connector rod 217B, and one end ofa relay 240. A second end of suppression device 250B connects to groundvia the connectors 246 and 228. A second end of the relay 240 connectsback to the −48 voltage line through one of the LEDs 207 and a rectifier242. The relay 240 includes a switch 241 in a first state. The LED 207is activated when the circuit is powered by the power lines and thesurge suppression device 250A is in a normal open operating state. Therelay switch 241 is daisy chained with the relays from the other surgesuppression monitoring circuits 280 connected to other surge suppressioncircuits. The relay 240, switch 241, and other alarm circuitry 207 and242 are located on the alarm board 280 in FIG. 18.

When the surge suppression device 250A fails due to a short-circuitcondition or power is removed from the circuit, the relay switch 241switches to a second state causing connections on alarm socket 205 toopen or disconnect a circuit that indicates a failure condition. Thesurge suppression unit 30 shown above in FIGS. 1-10 may have similarsurge suppression circuitry as shown in FIG. 20. However, otherelectrical circuit configurations could also be used.

Alternative Embodiment of External Surge Suppression Unit

FIG. 21 shows an alternative embodiment of the external surgesuppression unit described above in FIG. 1. A surge suppression unit 300has a relatively flat rectangular profile and can be located at any ofthe locations described above for surge suppression unit 30. In oneexample, the surge suppression unit 300 has a weather resistantenclosure 301 made from a polymeric material, such as plastic orsemi-flexible polyvinyl chloride (PVC) material. However, the enclosure301 may also be made out of metal or any other water resistance rigid orsemi-rigid material.

Enclosure 301 includes an enclosure cover 304 configured to attach to anenclosure base 302. The enclosure base 302 includes mounting arms 313that extend out from a back end and include holes 315 for receivingscrews or bolts for securing the enclosure 301 to a wall, tower, or anyother support structure. In one embodiment, the mounting arms 313 may beattached to a mounting bracket (not shown) that then mounts to the tower14 or other support structure 72 shown in FIG. 1.

Latching mechanisms 306 are located around an outside perimeter of theenclosure 301 and are configured to attach the enclosure base 302 in awatertight compression fit with the enclosure cover 304. The latchingmechanisms 306 allow the enclosure cover 304 to be removed from base 302without the use of tools. For example, latching mechanisms 306 can belocked or unlocked by hand by a technician. The aerodynamically roundedcorners of the enclosure 301 reduce wind load and the relatively flatprofile allow attachment in confined areas while also providing asubstantial amount of interior area for retaining surge suppression andfiber optic equipment.

FIG. 22 shows one of latching mechanisms 306 in an unlocked position andFIG. 23 shows the latching mechanism 306 in a locked position. Latchingmechanism 306 includes a retaining member 312 that extends back awayfrom a front face of the enclosure base 302. A lever 308 is rotatablyattached to a support member 314 formed on the edge of enclosure cover304. The support member 314 is integrally formed in the enclosure cover304 and includes slots for receiving an axle 311 attached to a back endof lever 308. A wire latch 310 is rotatably attached to the lever 308.The wire latch 310 is configured to attach around the retaining member312 and lever 308 is configured to rotate about axle 311 and away fromthe front face of the enclosure cover 304 and pull the wire latch 310tight against retaining member 312.

In another embodiment, retaining member 312 may be formed on the frontface of the enclosure cover 304 and the lever 308 is pivotally attachedto the front face of the enclosure base 302. As shown below, the latchmechanisms 306 hold the front face of the enclosure cover 304 incompression against the front face of enclosure base 302 insulating aninternal compartment of the enclosure 301 from external weatherconditions.

FIG. 24 shows an exploded view of the surge suppression unit 300. Afirst section of an internal compartment 324 of enclosure base 302includes a left hand section 328 of compartment 324 is set back from aright hand section and configured to retain a printed circuit board 402.The printed circuit board 402 is attached to clips 406 that connect tosurge suppression modules 400. A terminal strip 408 is connected to abottom end of circuit board 402 and is configured to connect to powercables. The right hand section of compartment 324 contains a tray 334configured to retain fiber optical cables.

A channel 331 is formed in and extends around a top end and sides of afront face 320 of enclosure base 302. A gasket 322 inserts into channel331 and also extends along the top end and sides of front face 320.Enclosure cover 304 includes a first outer lip 352 and a second innerlip 354 that each extends around a top and sides of a front face 350.

When enclosure cover 304 is attached to enclosure base 302, the outerlip 352 extends over and around the top and sides of the front face 320of enclosure base 302 and the inner lip 354 inserts into the channel 331formed in the front face 320 of enclosure base 302. Attaching thelatches 310 to retaining members 312 and rotating the latch mechanisms306 into their locked position further moves the inner lip 354 furtherinto channel 331 compressing against gasket 322.

Ports 330 extend longitudinally up through a bottom wall 326 from anexterior side of the enclosure base 302 to an interior side of theenclosure base 302. The ports 330 form elongated vertical slots 332 in afront face of bottom wall 326 and are configured to receive power cablesand/or fiber optic cables. A channel 336 extends horizontally along thefront face of bottom wall 326 and through ports 330 and is configured toreceive a gasket 340. The gasket 340 includes holes 342 that align withthe ports 330 when the gasket 340 is inserted into channel 336. Slits344 extend through a front surface of gasket 340 and into the holes 342.In one example, ridges 346 extend around an inside circumference of someor all of the holes 342. The wall 326 while shown at the bottom ofenclosure base 302 may alternatively be located on one of the sides ortop of enclosure base 302.

The enclosure cover 304 may include a bottom wall 356 configured to abutup against the bottom wall 326 of enclosure base 302 and cover the slots332. The bottom wall 356 includes arched retention members 358 thatextend through the slots 332 and into ports 330 formed in the bottomwall 326 of enclosure base 302. A gasket 362 is configured to insertinto a channel 360 that extends horizontally along the length of bottomwall 356. A ridge 364 extends out from a front surface of gasket 362.The ridge 364 compresses against a front surface of gasket 340 when theenclosure cover 304 is attached to enclosure base 302.

FIG. 25A shows an isolated view of the enclosure base 302. The surgesuppression module 400 is shown installed on the printed circuit board402 and tray 334 is shown retaining fiber optic cables 382 and 390. Thegasket 340 is also shown inserted into the channel 336 formed in bottomwall 326.

A cable 376 is inserted laterally from the side through one of slots 332and through the slits 344 and into one of the holes 342 in gasket 340and ports 330 in bottom wall 326. In one example, the port 330 receivingcable 376 may be larger than other ports 330 configured to receive powercables 370 and/or fiber optic cables 392. In at least one example, cable376 may contain both power cables 378 and 380 and fiber optic cables 382connected at a far end to the power plant 28 and BTS 24, respectively,shown in FIG. 1. In other embodiments, the port 330 receiving cable 376may be the same size as other ports 330 and cable 376 may be the samesize as the other cables 370 and/or 392. In another embodiment, a largercenter port 330 may not be formed in bottom wall 326.

The cable 370 is inserted into port 330 and seats snugly into one of thegasket holes 342 aligned with the port 330. Channels 368 may be formedinto and around inside walls of the ports 330 and may be configured toreceive ties 398 for wrapping around cables 370, 376, and 392. The ties398 secure the cables 370, 376, and 392 into ports 330 and can alsoserve as strain reliefs that distribute retention force of the enclosure301 against different locations on the cables 370, 376, and 392.

Power cables 378 and 380 attach to two of the upper terminals 404 onterminal strip 408. The terminals 404 include screws 373 that secure thepower cables within terminal holes. The terminals 404 are connected tothe surge suppression modules 400 through etched conductor busses 410 oncircuit board 402. The two immediately lower terminals 404 on terminalstrip 408 connect to two jumper power cables 372 and 374 that arecontained within cable 370 and connect to a radio 18 on tower 14 asshown in FIG. 1. Cable 370 slides laterally from the side through one ofslits 344 in gasket 340 and through slot 332 into one of the ports 330and gasket holes 342 located on the left side of bottom wall 326 in asimilar manner as cable 376.

Fiber optic cables 382 in cable 376 include connectors 384 that connectto an adapter 386 that is held in tray 334. A first far end of the fiberoptic cables 382 are attached to the communication station 24 inbuilding 32 of FIG. 1. A second near end of the fiber optic cables 382attach to the connectors 384 that insert into adapter 386. A first nearend of fiber optic jumper cables 390 are attached to connectors 388 thatinsert into a second end of adapters 386. A second far end of the fiberoptic jumper cables 390 connect to the ratios 18 on the top of tower 14as shown in FIG. 1. The fiber optic jumper cables 390 may wrap partiallyaround bend control supports 394 that extend out from the back wall ofenclosure base 302.

Several of the fiber optic jumper cables 390 may be contained withincable 392 that also inserts from the side through one of the slits 344and slots 332 and into an associated port 330 and gasket hole 342 on theright side of bottom wall 326 in enclosure base 302. In otherembodiments, the ports 330 may be different diameters to receivedifferent sizes of cables 370, 376, and/or 392.

At least in one example, a first set of ports 330 on the left side ofbottom wall 326 are used for retaining the power cables 370 and a secondset of ports 330 on the right side of bottom wall 326 are used forretaining fiber optic cables 392. However, the power cables 370 andfiber optic cables 392 may be inserted into any of the ports 330. Inother embodiments, there may be more or fewer ports 330 than shown inFIG. 25A. In another embodiment, ports 330 may be formed on the sides ortop end of enclosure base 302.

FIG. 25B shows an alternative embodiment of the enclosure base 302. Theupper portion of the enclosure base 302 may be similar to what is shownin FIG. 25A. However, in this embodiment, port holes 333 extendcompletely through a bottom wall 335 of enclosure base 302. Plasticconduit 337 may attach into port holes 333 similar to what waspreviously shown in FIG. 6.

Any number and variety of sizes of port holes 333A-333F may extendthrough bottom wall 335. At least in one example, a first set of ports333A-333C on the left side of bottom wall 335 may be used for retainingthe power cables 370 shown in FIG. 25A and a second set of ports 333Eand 333F on the right side of bottom wall 335 may be used for retainingfiber optic cables 392 shown in FIG. 25A. A larger port hole 333D in thecenter of bottom wall 335 may be used for retaining the cable 376 thatcontains power cables 378 and 380 and fiber optic cables 382 previouslyshown in FIG. 25A. However, the power cables 370 and fiber optic cables392 may be inserted into any of the ports 333. In other embodiments,there may be more or fewer port holes 333 than shown in FIG. 25B. Inanother embodiment, ports holes 333 may be formed on the sides or topend of enclosure base 302.

FIG. 26 is a partial cut-away view of the bottom wall 326 of enclosurebase 302 and the bottom wall 356 of enclosure cover 304. As describedabove in FIG. 25A, a power cable 370 inserts through a slot 332 formedin bottom wall 326 and laterally into port 330. The power cable 370 alsoinserts laterally through the slit 344 and into one of the gasket holes342. The ties 398 are wrapped and synched around the power cable 370. Inone example, the ties 398 may be plastic zip ties that automaticallylock when synched together. Ties 398 are known and therefore notdescribed in further detail.

FIG. 27 is a side-section elevation view of the port 330 retaining powercable 370. Referring to FIGS. 26 and 27, enclosure cover 304 attachesover enclosure base 302 and the front face of bottom wall 356 abuts upagainst a front face of bottom wall 326. In the closed position thebottom wall 356 holds the cables 370 snugly inside of port 330. Forexample, holes 366 fanned in the front face of bottom wall 356 receivethe attaching ends of ties 398 and allow the retention members 358 toextend into ports 330 and press against cable 370.

To further hold the cable 370 inside of port 330 and provide a weathertight seal, the ridge 364 formed in gasket 362 presses against outerflaps 367 of gasket 336 and across slit 344. In one example, top andbottom ends of the flaps 367 compress back and against the front side ofthe cable 370 while the ridge 346 extending around the inside surface ofgasket hole 342 compresses around cable 370 at a third center location.The multiple contact locations of gasket 336 further increase the numberof barrier contact points between the external environmental conditionsoutside of enclosure 301 and the internal compartment 324 of enclosure301.

FIG. 28A is a partial sectional plan view of the port 330 retainingcable 370 showing the enclosure cover 304 detached from enclosure base302. The channels 368 extend around interior side walls and into a backwall of the ports 330. A tunnel 371 extends into the back wall of ports330 forming a post 375. The tie 398 is inserted into tunnel 371 andwrapped around post 375. The tie 398 sits recessed in port 330 and thecable 370 is then inserted into port 330 and the ends of tie 398 synchedtogether. When synched, the tie 398 pulls the cable 370 into port 330and against a front face of post 375.

FIG. 28B is a sectional plan view of the port 330 with the enclosurecover 304 attached to enclosure base 302. The front face 357 ofenclosure cover 304 presses up against the front face 327 of enclosurebase 302. The inner lip 354 of enclosure cover 304 inserts into channel331 and presses against gasket 322. The tie 398 is shown in a fullsynched position holding cable 370 against the inside wall and post 375inside of port 330. The holes 366 in enclosure cover 304 receive andcontain the ends of tie 398 and the retention members 358 extend intoports 330 and press against power cables 370.

FIG. 29 shows an exploded perspective view for one of the surgesuppression modules 400. A bolt 431 couples a bus bar 430A to a firstend of a surge suppression device 100A. A connection member 138 extendsout a second end of surge suppression device 100A and inserts through ahole in a second bus bar 430B and into a threaded hole on a first end ofa second surge suppression device 100B. A second end of surgesuppression device 100B includes a connection member 130 that insertsthrough a hole in a third bus bar 430C and threadingly engages with anut 432.

The surge suppression devices 100A and 100B may be similar to the surgesuppression devices 100 described in FIG. 4 and/or surge suppressiondevice 250 described in FIG. 10. However, other types of surgesuppression devices could also be used. The bus bars 430 in one examplehave a substantially flat rectangular profile and may have oppositelyinclining sides at a bottom end forming a wedge.

A mounting base 434 has an oval cross-sectional shape and is configuredto receive surge suppression devices 100. Two semi-circular mountingsupports 435 have a shape and size similar to the circular outside shapeof surge suppression devices 100 allowing the two surge suppressiondevices 100 can sit or snap into the supports 435. The mounting base 434may be made from a polymeric material and may include two clips 440 thatextend down from opposite lateral sides.

A mounting cap 420 extends over surge suppression devices 100 andconnects to mounting base 434. Cap 420 includes clips 422 that extenddown from a front and back side and insert into holes 438 formed on thefirst and back sides of mounting base 434. Two clips 424 extend downfrom the lateral sides of cap 420 and insert into holes 436 formed onthe lateral sides of mounting base 434.

FIG. 30 is an exploded perspective view of the surge suppression module400 with the two surge suppression devices 100A and 100B shown attachedtogether. The clips 440 are configured to bend inward and insert intoslots 442 in the printed circuit board 402 of FIG. 30. The two clips 440are then released and spring back outward against the slots 442. The busbars 430A-430C extend down though a bottom end of mounting base 434 andinsert into clips 406A-406C, respectively, extending up from printedcircuit board 402. The cap 420 attaches onto the top of mounting base434 and covers surge suppression devices 100A and 100B. The clips 422snap into holes 438 in mounting base 434 and clips 424 snap into holes436 in mounting base 434.

FIG. 31 is a front elevational sectional view of the surge suppressionmodule 400. The clips 406 are mounted to the printed circuit board 402with screws 452 and nuts 454. The clips 406 extend up from the printedcircuit board 402 and include opposing arms 450A and 450B that receiveand hold press against opposite sides of a bottom end of bus bars 430.

The surge suppression devices 100A and 100B are inserted into mountingbase 434 before, during or after the mounting base 434 is attached tocircuit board 402. The surge suppression devices 100A and 100B, and busbars 430, insert down into the mounting base 434 until the bottom sidesof the surge suppression devices 100A and 100B abut against the top ofmounting supports 435. Clips 424 press slightly inward while cap 420 isattached onto the top of mounting base 434. The bottom ends 436 of clips424 insert into the holes 436 and spring slightly outward locking themounting cover 420 to the mounting base 434.

The surge suppression module 400 is plugged into the circuit board 402by pressing the clips 440 inward and inserting the clips into slots 442in printed circuit board 402. While inserting clips 440 into circuitboard 402, the bottom ends of bus bars 430 extend down in-between springarms 450A and 450B pushing the two arms 450 outward. The clips 440 arereleased and spring outward pressing against an outer side of the slots442. Latches 425 on the bottom end of clips 440 sit against a bottomside of the printed circuit board 402 and hold the mounting base 434 tothe printed circuit board 402.

The entire surge suppression module 400 can be attached and detected toand from printed circuit board 402 without any tools. For example, toremove surge suppression module 400, the clips 440 are pressed inwardand the bottom ends 425 lifted up and out of slots 442. The surgesuppression devices 100A and 100B are lifted upward by supports 435 andthe bottom ends of bus bars 430 are similarly lifted up and out fromin-between the opposing springs aims 450A and 450B of clips 406. Thus,an operator simply has to squeeze and lift the sides of the mountingbase 434 in order to detach the surge suppression module 400 fromprinted circuit board 402.

Modular Rack Mountable Surge Suppression Unit

FIG. 32 shows a front perspective view of an alternative embodiment of arack based surge suppression unit 500. The surge suppression unit 500includes a frame 502 that connects to a rack or support structure. Therear end of the frame 502 supports a power connection panel 504 and afront end of the frame 502 supports a surge suppression tray 506. Thefront of the surge suppression unit 500 includes a series of lightemitting diodes (LEDs) 510 that are activated based on the operationalstate of surge suppression devices contained in the tray 506. Handles511 on a front side of the tray 506 are used for locking the tray 506 tothe mounting frame 502.

Mounting brackets 508 attach at the front, back, or middle sides of theframe 502 and attach to the rack or other support structure 25 shown inFIG. 2. For example, a first set of brackets 508 may be used at a firstlocation for a 19 inch rack and a second different set of brackets 508may be used at a second location for a 23 inch rack.

The surge suppression unit 500 has the advantage of having aconventional Rack Unit (RU) form factor that in one embodiment is a 2RUhousing 522 that can fit into a 19 inch or 23 inch rack configuration.This allows the surge suppression unit 500 to be mounted in the samerack 25 that holds the electronic circuitry for the power plant 28and/or holds the telecommunication circuitry for the BTS 24 shown inFIG. 1. This also allows the surge suppression unit 500 to be connectedcloser to the power plant 28 and telecommunication circuitry 24. Thesurge suppression unit 500 can be mounted onto any other rack or otherstructure that may be housed in the building 32 shown in FIG. 1, usesless space, and does not require a special mounting structure or rack.

FIG. 33 is a perspective front view of the frame 502 and connectionpanel 504. The frame 502 includes walls 526 extending up the sides of afloor 530 and a back wall 523 that extends up from a back end of floor530. A back panel 528 is located in front of connection panel 504 andincludes openings 514 for accessing electrical contacts 516 that areattached to the connection panel 504. The side walls 526 include slots520 that engage with latches 512 on the tray 506 that are moved by thehandles 511 in FIG. 32.

FIG. 34 is a perspective view of the surge suppression tray 506. Thetray 506 contains surge suppression modules 400 (FIG. 44) that providesurge suppression for the electrical equipment located in the structure32 in FIG. 1. The tray 506 has a rectangular shaped housing 522 thatslides into and is supported by the frame 502 in FIG. 33. A cover 524 isattached to a top end of the housing 522. Latch aims 532 rotate andextend out of openings 531 on the sides of housing 522 in response torotating handles 511 and engage with the slots 520 on the sides of tray506.

FIG. 35 is a perspective rear view of the surge suppression unit 500.The tray 506 is shown detached in a spaced apart position with respectto the power connection panel 504. The back of tray 506 slides backagainst the power connection panel 504. In line blind mate high currentconnectors 540 extend out the back end of tray 506 and include insulatorhousings 542 that align and insert into openings 514 (FIG. 36) formed inthe back panel 528. Contacts 544 within the insulator housing 542 engagewith power contacts 516 in FIG. 33 located in the connection panel 504.The contacts 544 extending from tray 506 may be clips and the associatedcontacts 516 extending out from the connection panel 504 may be a busbar that together provide a relatively large contact surface area forhandling high surge currents.

The connection panel 504 includes Kelvin connectors 534 that connect topower cables coupled to both the power plant 20 and to the radios 18 ontower 14 in FIG. 1. A first connector 534A may be connected to a supplypower cable and a second connector 534B may be connected to a returnpower cable. A connector 540A in tray 506 is coupled to Kelvin connector534A and a connector 540B in tray 506 is coupled to Kelvin connector534B. A ground cable is coupled to connector 536 and alarm connections538 are located on a left side of the connection panel 504.

The connection panel 504 provides a common in-line connectivity pointfor the surge suppression modules 400 contained in the tray 506. Theunique in-line connectivity allows the tray 506 and internal surgesuppression modules 400 to be detached from energized power lineswithout disrupting operation of the radios 18 in FIG. 1 (hot swappable).Multiple surge suppression modules 400 can be removed, replaced, andplugged into the power lines 20 all at the same time simply byconnecting or disconnecting tray 506 to or from connection panel 504.

FIG. 36 shows an exploded perspective view of the power connection panel504. A cover 550 extends around the Kelvin connectors 534. Upper andimmediately lower terminals 535A and 535B, respectively, extend out froma back end of the Kelvin connectors 534. An insulator block 552 includeswalls that extend out from between the Kelvin connectors 534.

Threaded conductive standoffs 554 include a first threaded end thatscrews into threaded holes in the Kelvin connectors 534. A second end ofthe standoffs 554 insert through holes in an insulating spacer 556 andconnect to the power contacts 516. Screws 558 extend through holes incontacts 516 and engage with threaded holes in the second end ofconductive standoffs 554. The alarm connectors 538 extend through a hole566 in a back wall 523 of the frame 502. The ground connector 536 isattached to a ground contact 562 that attaches to an opposite side ofback wall 523 via screws 564.

The back end of connection panel 504 inserts through an opening 568 inthe back wall 523 of frame 502. A back panel 528 is shown in a spacedforward position in the frame 502. After installation, the back panel528 sits just in front of the contacts 516 and 562 so that openings 514each align with one of the contacts 516 or 562. The back panel 528 isaligned such that the insulator housings 542 in FIG. 35 insert intoopenings 514 and contacts 544 in insulator housings 542 connect tocontacts 516 and 562.

FIG. 37 shows a partial assembled view of the power connection panel504. The conductive standoffs 554 provide separate power connectionsbetween individual Kelvin connectors 534 and different contacts 516.Each Kelvin connector 534 includes a top terminal 535A and animmediately lower bottom terminal 535B that are each shorted togetherthru a conductive member 546 that extends between the sides ofconductive face plates that retain the terminals 535A and 535B.

Each upper terminal 535A is set back from the immediately lower terminal535B to allow easier attachment of power cable connectors. Each Kelvinconnector 534 is separated from an adjacent Kelvin connector 534 by anoutwardly extending wall 553 of the insulator block 552 to reduce thechances of unintended shorting between power cables. In one embodiment,the insulator block 552 is made from a non-conductive polymericmaterial.

FIG. 38 shows a rear elevation view of the power connection panel 504. Afirst lower terminal 535B of Kelvin connector 534A may be connected to ajumper power cable that connects to the power plant 28 in FIG. 1. Asecond upper terminal 535A of connector 534A is shorted to terminal 535Bof Kelvin connector 534A and connects to a power cable that connects tothe external surge suppression unit 30 in FIG. 1 or surge suppressionunit 300 in FIG. 21.

A first lower terminal 535B of Kelvin connector 534B may be connected toa jumper power cable that connects to a return power connection in thepower plant 28 in FIG. 1. The second terminal 535A of Kelvin connector534B is shorted to lower terminal 535B of connector 534B and connects toa return power cable that connectors to the external surge suppressionunit 30 in FIG. 1 or surge suppression unit 300 in FIG. 21.

Each pair of Kelvin connectors 534A and 534B is associated with thepower cables for a different radio 18 in FIG. 1. There are six sets oftwo Kelvin connectors 534A and 534B that extend out the back of theconnection panel 504 that can each connect to a different set of powercables for powering a different radio 18. For example, the first set ofconnectors 534A and 534B on the far right of connection panel 504 may beassociated with a first set of power cables connected to a first radio18. Each of the six sets of two Kelvin connectors 534A and 534B are alsoconnected to an associated one of the surge suppression modules 400contained within the tray 506.

The connection panel 504 provides unique “in-line” connectivity betweenpower lines and the surge suppression modules 400 in tray 506. Foreffective surge suppression protection, surge suppression devices may belocated relatively close to the protected electrical circuitry. The rackmountable power connection panel 504 provides a common connectionlocation for surge suppression devices to connect to different powerlines and allows surge suppression modules 400 in FIG. 39 to be closelymounted on the same rack that contains DC power plant 28 and/orcommunication station 24. As also explained above, detachably connectingthe tray 506 in FIG. 34 to the power connection panel 504 allows thesurge suppression modules 400 in the tray 506 to be more easilyconnected and disconnected from multiple power lines without disruptingpower to the radios 18. The power lines come into the connection panel504 from the DC power plant 28.

The power lines go out from the connection panel 504 through the powercables to the radios 18. This allows the surge suppression modules 400in tray 506 to receive power from the power lines before the power isdirected out through other power lines to the radios 18. This in-linefeature prevents having to use “T” wiring configurations that areseparately run from the power cables to surge suppression devices. Thein-line feature provides controlled, consistent, repeatable, andrelatively close connectivity between the surge suppression modules 400in tray 506 and the DC power supply 28.

FIG. 39 shows a front perspective view of the rack mountable tray 506with a top hood removed. A bottom floor holds a surge suppressionassembly 580. The assembly 580 includes a printed circuit board 581 thatretains contacts 582 configured to connect to surge suppression modules400. Blind mate connectors 540 are attached to the back wall 560 of thehousing 522 and are electrically coupled to the contacts 582 via etchedconductor busses on printed circuit board 581.

Each set of contacts 582A, 582B, and 582C are configured to plug into anassociated surge suppression module 400. There are six sets of contacts582A, 582B, and 582C shown located on circuit board 581 for connectingto six different surge suppression modules 400. In other configurations,more or fewer surge suppression modules 400 may be plugged into assembly580. In one embodiment, the surge suppression modules 400 are the sameas the surge suppression modules 400 used in the surge suppression unit300 described above. However, other types of surge suppression devicescan also be used, such as the surge suppression modules 260 shown abovein FIG. 10. Only two surge suppression modules 400 are shown in FIG. 39.However, additional surge suppression modules 400 can be plugged intothe other sets of connectors 582 in tray 506 and provide surgesuppression for up to six sets of power cables 20.

FIG. 40 is an isolated perspective view of the surge suppressionassembly 580. Flexible bus bars 592 attach at a bottom end to theprinted circuit board 581 and attach at a top end to one of theinsulator housings 542. A first etched conductor bus (not shown) onprinted circuit board 581 connects a supply contact 582A to a bus bar592A that connects to the Kelvin connector 534A shown in FIG. 38. Asecond etched conductor bus (not shown) on printed circuit board 581connects a return contact 582B to a bus bar 592B that connects to theKelvin connector 534B in FIG. 38. A third etched conductor bus (notshown) on printed circuit board 581 connects a ground contact 582C to aground bus bar 592C that connects to the ground connector 536 in FIG.38. Similar etched conductor buses on printed circuit board 581 connectthe other sets of three contacts 582 and associated surge suppressionmodules 400 to associated connectors 540 in suppression assembly 580.

Pairs of slots 584 in printed circuit board 581 receive clips from oneof the surge suppression modules 400 in a similar manner as describedabove in FIG. 31. Alarm circuits 590 are connected to the contacts 582in a similar manner as the monitoring circuits 280 described above inFIG. 20. Each monitoring circuit 590 is connected to a two positionalarm configuration switch 586 configured to selective connect themonitoring circuit 590 in series with any other activated monitoringcircuits 590. The alarm circuit 590 generates an alarm signal on alarmconnections 538 in FIG. 35 when the surge suppression device 100A in anassociated surge suppression module 400 shorts to ground. The alarmsignal is described in more detail above in FIG. 20. Each of the LEDs510 is activated when the associated surge suppression module 400 is ina powered and operational state.

FIG. 41 shows an exploded perspective view for one of the powerconnectors 540 and FIG. 42 shows a section plan view of a powerconnector 540. Each power connector 540 includes two flexible bus bars592 that support an associated insulator housing 542. A first end of twoattachment aims 596 are soldered to top ends of two bus bars 592 andsecond 90 degree ends of the arms 596 include holes that align withholes 602 in housing 542. Two high current spring contacts 544 includeholes 604 that align with the holes 602 in housing 542 and the holes inarms 596. Screws 594 insert through the holes 602 and 604 andthreadingly engage with nuts 610 located in contacts 544.

Bottom ends of the flexible bus bars 592 are bent at a ninety degreeangle with respect to an upper portion of bus bars 592 and include holes606 that align with holes in the printed circuit board 581. Dividers 598extend perpendicularly out form a front face of housing 542 and the arms596 press against the sides of the dividers 598.

The housing 542 has tapered walls 600 with oppositely inclining sidesthat extend out the back wall 560 of tray 506 and insert into theopenings 514 formed in the back panel 528 of connection panel 504 (seeFIGS. 36 and 39). The walls 600 form two internal cavities 608 thatcontain contacts 544. In one example, the housing 542 is made from apolymeric material and operates as an insulator.

FIG. 43 is a side section elevation view of the tray 506 connected tothe frame 502. A nut and bolt 612 hold the bus bar 592 to the printedcircuit board 581. Bolts 614 extend through the back wall 560 of tray506 and engage with nuts 616 attached to the front face of housing 542.The blind mate in-line push connector 540 extends out of the back wall560 of the tray 506 and inserts into the openings 514 formed in the backpanel 528 of connection panel 504. The power contacts 516 in connectionpanel 504 insert in-between the spring contacts 544.

Power cables (not shown) are connected to terminals 535A and 535B andconnect through standoffs 554 to the contacts 516. The contacts 516 arecoupled to spring contacts 544 that are coupled through bus bars 592 tothe conductive busses on printed circuit board 581. The conductingbusses couple the bus bars 592 to the surge suppression units in module400.

When the tray 506 is inserted into frame 502, the contacts 544 align andmate with the contacts 516 that extend out the back of connection panel504. This allows all of the surge suppression modules 400 contained intray 506 to be connected to multiple different power lines all at thesame time simply by plugging tray 506 into the power connection panel504.

FIG. 44 shows an exploded perspective view for one of surge suppressionmodules 400 located in tray 506 and is similar to the surge suppressionmodules 400 previously shown in FIG. 29. A first surge suppressiondevice 100A is coupled by a bolt 431 at one end to a bus bar 430A. Aconnecting member 138 extends out a second end of surge suppressiondevice 100A and inserts through a hole in a second bus bar 430B and intoa threaded hole on a first side of a second surge suppression device100B. A second end of surge suppression device 100B includes aconnecting member 130 that inserts through a hole in a third bus bar430C and threadingly engages with a nut 432.

The surge suppression devices 100A and 100B may also be similar to thesurge suppression devices 100 described in FIG. 4 and/or surgesuppression device 250 described in FIG. 10. However, other types ofsurge suppression devices could also be used. The bus bars 430 in oneexample have a substantially flat rectangular profile and may haveoppositely inclining front and back faces that form a wedge at a bottomend.

Mounting base 434 has an oval cross-sectional shape and is configured toreceive surge suppression devices 100A and 100B. Two semi-circularsupports 435 have a shape and size similar to the circular circumferenceof surge suppression devices 100. Thus, the two surge suppressiondevices 100A and 100B can sit snugly or snap into the supports 435. Themounting base 434 may be made from a polymeric material and includes twoclips 440 extending down from opposite lateral sides that are configuredto insert into slots 584 in the printed circuit board 581. The two clips440 can be compressed laterally inward and may springly extend backoutward toward an original position.

The mounting cap 420 may be made from a polymeric material and extendsover surge suppression devices 100 and connects to mounting base 434.Mounting cover 420 includes clips 422 in a front and back end thatinsert into holes 438 formed on the front and back sides of mountingbase 434. Two clips 424 extend down from the lateral sides of cover 420and insert into holes 436 formed on the lateral sides of mounting base434.

FIG. 45 is a front sectional elevation view of the surge suppressionmodule 400. The contacts 482 are mounted to the top of printed circuitboard 581 with screws 570. The bus bars 430A-430C extend down from abottom end of mounting base 434 and insert into contacts 582A-582C,respectively.

The clips 440 on the sides of mounting base 434 insert into slots 584formed in printed circuit board 581. The clips 440 are both pressedinward and inserted into slots 584 in printed circuit board 581. Theclips 440 are released and spring back outward pressing against an outerside of the slots 584. Latches 424 on the bottom end of clips 440 sitagainst a bottom side of the printed circuit board 581 and hold themounting base 434 to the printed circuit board 581.

The surge suppression devices 100A and 100B and bus bars 430 insert downinto the mounting base 434 until the bottom sides of the surgesuppression devices 100A and 100B seat into the mounting supports 435.The cap 420 is attached over mounting base 434 and clips 422 (FIG. 30)and 424 press slightly inward until inserting into the holes 438 (FIG.30) and 436, respectively. The clips 422 and 424 then spring slightlyoutward locking the mounting cover 420 to the mounting base 434. Whilethe mounting base 434 is being attached to the printed circuit board581, the bottom ends of bus bars 430 extend down in-between spring arms583A and 583B of contacts 582 pushing the two arms 583 outward.

The surge suppression module 400 can be plugged into and detached fromprinted circuit board 5814 without any tools. For example, the surgesuppression module 400 is removed by pressing the clips 440 inward andlifting the retention members 424 up and out of slots 584. The surgesuppression devices 100A and 100B are lifted upward by supports 435 andthe bus bars 430 are similarly lifted up and out from in-between thecontacts 582. Thus, an operator simply has to squeeze and lift the sidesof the mounting base 434 to detach the surge suppression module 400 fromprinted circuit board 581.

Insertable Box Surge Suppression Unit

FIG. 46 shows a front perspective view of yet another alternativeembodiment of a rack based surge suppression unit 700. Surge suppressionunit 700 includes a chassis 702 that connects to a rack or supportstructure. A back end of chassis 702 attaches to a connection panel 704and a front end of the chassis 702 receives elongated box-shaped surgesuppression modules 706. Handles 708 are located on a front side of thesurge suppression modules 706 and are used for longitudinally insertingand removing surge suppression modules 506 into and from chassis 702.

Mounting brackets 710 attach at the front, back, or middle sides of thechassis 702 and attach to the rack or other support structure 25previously shown in FIG. 2. A first pair of brackets 710 may be used ata first side location for a 19 inch rack and a second different pair ofbrackets 710 may be used at a second side location for a 23 inch rack.

The surge suppression unit 700 has the advantage of having aconventional Rack Unit (RU) form factor that in one embodiment uses a2RU chassis 702 that can fit into a 19 inch or 23 inch rackconfiguration. This allows the surge suppression unit 700 to be mountedin the same rack 25 that holds the electronic circuitry for the powerplant 28 and/or holds the telecommunication circuitry for the BTS 24shown in FIG. 1. This allows the surge suppression unit 700 to beconnected closer to the power plant 28 and telecommunication circuitry24. Surge suppression unit 700 can be mounted onto any other rack orother support structure that may be housed in the building 32 shown inFIG. 1, uses less space, and does not require a special mountingstructure or rack. The box shaped suppression modules 706 can also bequickly and easily removed from chassis 702 for easy access to internalsuppression devices.

FIG. 47 is a perspective view of surge suppression unit 700 showing oneof the suppression modules 706 removed from chassis 702 and another oneof suppression modules 706 inserted into chassis 702. Chassis 702includes multiple horizontally elongated slots 720 for receivingmultiple suppression modules 706. In one example, the chassis 702 isconfigured to receive six suppression modules 706. However, any numberof slots 720 and suppression modules 706 may be used by varying a widthof chassis 702. Slots 720 are delineated by tracks 718 that are formedby cutting strips into chassis 702 and bending the strips into aninternal cavity of chassis 702.

In one example, suppression module 706 has an elongated rectangular boxshape configured to retain surge suppression devices end-to-end andinsert horizontally into a front end of the chassis 702. Surgesuppression modules 706 are slide into one of slots 720 in-betweenassociated tracks 718 until a faceplate 722 presses up against a frontface of chassis 702. In the fully inserted position, a back end of thesuppression modules 706 connect with connection panel 704 previouslyshown in FIG. 46. Any unused slots 720 can be covered with a blankfaceplate 712.

Monitor receptacles 714 are located at a bottom end of each slot 720 andreceive monitor plugs 736 that extend from a bottom back side offaceplate 722 (see FIG. 49). Monitor receptacles 714 connect monitorcircuitry contained in suppression modules 706 with circuitry located ona monitor card 716. Monitor card 716 inserts into tracks 724 that form aslot on a lateral end of chassis 702.

Monitor card 716 activates a Light Emitting Diode (LED) 726 whenever afailure is detected in one of suppression modules 706. For example,whenever suppression module 706 is inserted into chassis 702, thecircuitry in monitor card 716 starts monitoring the operational statusof surge suppression devices 100 within the suppression module 706.Circuitry on monitor card 716 then activates LED 726 whenever one of thesurge suppression devices 100 in modules 706 is disabled due to a powersurge event.

Each individual suppression module 706 includes additional monitorcircuitry similar to that shown in FIG. 20 that is configured to activeone of LEDs 728 when an associated pair of surge suppression devices ispowered and operational. When the LED 726 on monitor card 716 isactivated, an operator can locate the failed surge suppression device byidentifying an associated deactivated LED 728 on one of suppressionmodules 706.

FIG. 48 is a perspective isolated rear view of one of suppressionmodules 706. Handle 708 is connected to a front side of faceplate 722and an elongated rectangular box shaped enclosure 730 extendshorizontally out from a back side of faceplate 722. Clips 734 extendfrom a back end of suppression module 706 and are configured to receiveand compress against blade connectors that extend from the connectionpanel 704 in FIG. 46. A monitor plug 736 extends out from a bottom backside of faceplate 722 and inserts into one of the monitor receptacles714 shown in FIG. 47.

FIG. 49 is a rear perspective view for one of suppression modules 706with enclosure 730 removed. FIG. 50A is a front perspective view of thesuppression module 706 in FIG. 49, and FIG. 50B is a partial explodedview of the suppression module in FIG. 50A. Referring to FIGS. 49, 50Aand 50B, four suppression devices 100A-100D are suspended horizontallyend-to-end out from the back side of faceplate 722.

A first end of a bus bar 742A is coupled to a first end of suppressiondevice 100A and a middle portion of bus bar 742A extends parallel alongthe sides of the surge suppression devices 100A-100D. A second end ofbus bar 742A is parallel to the first end and is connected to clip 734A.A first end of bus bar 742B is coupled between suppression device 100Aand suppression device 100B, a middle portion of bus bar 742B extendsparallel along the sides of surge suppression devices 100B-100D, and asecond end of bus bar 742B is parallel to the first end and is connectedto clip 734B.

A first end 743A of bus bar 742C is coupled between suppression device100C and suppression device 100D, a middle portion 743B of bus bar 742Cextends parallel to the side of suppression device 100D, and a secondend 743C of bus bar 742C is parallel to the first end and is connectedto clip 734C. FIG. 50B shows the first end 743A of bus bar 742C in moredetail and the first ends of bus bars 742A, 742B, and 742D have asimilar shape. A first end of bus bar 742D is coupled to a back end ofsuppression device 100D, a middle portion of bus bar 742D isperpendicular to the first end, and a second end of bus bar 742D isparallel to the first end and is connected to clip 734D.

A first end of ground bus bar 744 is coupled between suppression devices100B and 100C, a middle section of ground bus bar 744 extends parallelto the sides of suppression devices 100A and 100B, and a second end ofground bus bar 744 is coupled to the back side of faceplate 722.

Spacers 740 are located between the suppression devices 100 and have asubstantially square outside perimeter that inserts into one of slots738 formed around inside walls of enclosure 730. In one embodiment,spacers 740 are made of plastic or some other non-conductive materialand support the suppression devices 100A-100D within two halves 730A and730B of enclosure 730. A raised ring 741 is formed on a front side ofspacer 740 to receive one end of suppression device 100 and animpression is formed on a back end of spacer 740 to receive the firstend 734 of bus bar 742.

Slots 748 are formed on opposite sides of spacers 740 to retain the busbars 742 and/or 744. Clips 750 are formed on top ends of spacers 740 toretain monitor wires 749. Some of monitor wires 749 connect to the LEDs728 on the front side of faceplate 722 and the monitor circuitry shownin FIG. 20. Other monitor wires 749 connect to monitor card 716 shown inFIG. 47 through monitor plug 736.

Referring specifically to FIG. 50B, suppression device 100C is seated inring 741 on the front side of spacer 740C and the first end 743A of busbar 742C is seated in the impression formed on the back side of spacer740C. A connecting member 745 is inserted through the middle of spacer740C and through a hole 747 in first end 743A. The two suppressiondevices 100D and 100C are all screwed onto opposite ends of connectingmember 745 and press together spacer 740C and bus bar 742C. As a result,a back end of suppression device 100C, bus bar 742C, and a front end ofsuppression device 100D are all electrically coupled to each other.

FIGS. 51 and 52 are rear perspective views of surge suppression unit700. Connection panel 704 includes a plastic housing 752 that attachesto a back end of chassis 702. A monitor plug 758 is also attached to theback end of chassis 702 for remotely connecting to the monitoringcircuitry in monitor card 716 shown in FIG. 47.

Two rows of lugs 754 attach to housing 752. Each lug 754 includes ablade connector 776 integrally formed and extending from a front end ofa lug body 778. Two holes 766 extend into a back end of lug body 778 andare configured to receive and electrically connect two power cables 756with blade connector 776. For example, power cable 756A in FIG. 52 isinserted horizontally into hole 766A of lug 754E and power cable 756B isinserted horizontally into hole 766B of lug 754E. Two screws 768 in lug754E are configured to secure cables 756A and 756B inside of holes 766Aand 766B, respectively. The two power cables 756A and 756B areaccordingly electrically connected to blade connector 776 via theconductive body 778 of lug 754E.

Each lug 754 is configured to receive a different power cable or powerjumper cable. Each set of two upper and two immediately lower lugs 754are configured to connect to suppression devices 100 in a samesuppression module 706 and provide surge suppression for two differentradios 18 in FIG. 1. For example, a first hole in lug 754A in FIG. 51may connect to a first power cable connected to a first radio. A secondhole in lug 754A may connect a jumper power cable 756 connected to DCpower supply 28 in FIG. 1. A first hole in lug 754B in FIG. 51 mayconnect to a first return power cable connected to the first radio and asecond hole in lug 754B may connect a first jumper return power cableconnected to DC power supply 28.

A first hole in lug 754C in FIG. 51 may connect to a second power cableconnected to a second radio. A second hole in lug 754C may connect asecond jumper power cable 756 connected to DC power supply 28 in FIG. 1.A first hole in lug 754D in FIG. 51 may connect to a second return powercable connected to the second radio and a second hole in lug 754D mayconnect a second jumper return power cable that connects to DC powersupply 28.

A tray 772 holds a ground strip 760. A ground shield conductor or groundwire 774 in the cables 756 are inserted into the holes 764 in groundstrip 760 and held in place by screws 762. All of the conductors orwires 774 are grounded through ground strip 760 and conductive tray 772to a system ground cable 770.

FIG. 53 shows a side sectional partial cut-away view of surgesuppression unit 700. Suppression module 706 is shown fully insertedinto chassis 702. Lugs 754 are connected to housing 752 by screws 780.Clips 734 are spread apart by blade connectors 776 as suppression module706 inserts into chassis 702. In the fully inserted position, clips 734press against opposite upper and lower sides of blade connectors 776electrically coupling suppression devices 100 in suppression module 706with power cables 756 connected to lugs 754. In the fully insertedposition, monitor plug 736 in FIG. 49 inserts into monitor receptacle714 connecting some of monitoring wires 749 in suppression module 706with monitor card 716 in FIG. 47.

FIGS. 54A and 54B show side sectional views for one of lugs 754. Aclamping cam 782 is located within lug body 778 and is shown in a raisedposition in FIG. 54A. Power cable 756 is inserted into hole 766 belowclamping cam 782. In FIG. 54B, screw 768 is screwed further into athreaded hole 784. A front end of screw 768 rotates clamping cam 782 ina counter clockwise downward direction causing a bottom end of clampingcam 782 to press power cable 756 down against a bottom wall of hole 766.Accordingly, power cable 756 is securely fastened against lug body 778and a secure electrical connection is established between power cable756 and blade connector 776. The horizontal alignment of hole 766, powercable 756, and screw 768 allow multiple power cables 756 to beindependently inserted and clamped down into lugs 754 within arelatively small vertical surface area.

Several preferred examples have been described above with reference tothe accompanying drawings and pictures. Various other examples of theinvention are also possible and practical. The system may be exemplifiedin many different forms and should not be construed as being limited tothe examples set forth above.

The figures listed above illustrate preferred examples of theapplication and the operation of such examples. In the figures, the sizeof the boxes is not intended to represent the size of the variousphysical components. Where the same element appears in multiple figures,the same reference numeral is used to denote the element in all of thefigures where it appears.

Only those parts of the various units are shown and described which arenecessary to convey an understanding of the examples to those skilled inthe art. Those parts and elements not shown may be conventional andknown in the art.

Having described and illustrated the principles of the invention in apreferred embodiment thereof, it should be apparent that the inventionmay be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from suchprinciples. We claim all modifications and variation coming within thespirit and scope of the following claims.

1. A connection lug, comprising: an electrically conductive body; anelectrically conductive blade connector extending from a first end ofthe body; a cable hole located in a second end of the body, wherein thecable hole is configured to receive a cable; and a clamping camconfigured to rotate inside of the body and clamp against the cable. 2.The connection lug of claim 1, wherein the body is configured to attachto a housing of a connection panel and the blade connector is configuredto slidingly insert into a conductive clip coupled to a surgesuppression device.
 3. The connection lug of claim 1, wherein the bodyis substantially square and the blade connector is a substantially flatelongated conductive bus bar extending out and across the first end ofthe body.
 4. The connection lug according to claim 1, further comprisinga screw hole configured to receive a clamping screw, wherein a portionof the clamping cam is configured to extend into the screw hole andinsertion of the clamping screw into the screw hole is configured topush against the portion of the clamping cam and rotate the clamping caminto the cable hole.
 5. The connection lug according to claim 4, whereinthe screw hole is further configured to: extend from the first end ofthe body to the second end of the body; and receive an attachment screwin the first end of the body for attaching the body to a connectionpanel.
 6. The connection lug according to claim 1, further comprising achamber configured to retain the clamping cam, wherein the clamping camis configured to rotate downward from the chamber into the cable hole.7. The connection lug according to claim 1, wherein the cable holeextends horizontally inside the body and is configured to longitudinallyreceive the cable.
 8. The connection lug according to claim 1, furthercomprising: an additional cable hole located adjacent to the cable holeand configured to receive an additional cable; and an additionalclamping cam configured to rotate inside of the body and electricallyclamp the additional cable against the body.
 9. The connection lug ofclaim 8, further comprising: a first screw hole, wherein a portion ofthe clamping cam is configured to extend into the first screw hole andinsertion of a first screw into the first screw hole is configured topush against the portion of the clamping cam and rotate the clamping caminto the cable hole; and a second screw hole, wherein a portion of theadditional clamping cam is configured to extend into the second screwhole and insertion of a second screw into the second screw hole isconfigured to push against the portion of the additional clamping camand rotate the additional clamping cam into the additional cable hole.10. The connection lug of claim 9, wherein: the cable comprises a powercable coupled at a first end through a first surge suppression device toradio circuitry and coupled at a second end to a second surgesuppression device; and the additional cable comprises a jumper powercable coupled at a first end to the second surge suppression device andcoupled at a second end to a power supply.
 11. An apparatus, comprising:a lug comprising a first end configured to receive a wire andelectrically couple the wire to a body section, a second end comprisinga bus bar extending from the body section and configured to slidinglyattach in-line with a connector coupled to a surge suppression device,and a cam configured to rotate within the body section and clamp againstthe wire.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a clampinghole extending horizontally into the first end configured to receive thewire.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a screw hole,wherein a portion of the cam is configured to extend into the screw holeand insertion of a screw into the screw hole is configured to rotate thecam into the clamping hole and clamp against the wire.
 14. The apparatusof claim 12, further comprising a chamber located above the clampinghole configured to rotatably retain the cam.
 15. The apparatus of claim11, further comprising a connection panel configured to attach to a rackmountable surge suppression unit retaining the surge suppression deviceand the connector, wherein the lug is configured to attach to theconnection panel and the bus bar is configured to insert into a back endof the surge suppression unit and attach in-line with the connector inthe surge suppression unit.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15, furthercomprising multiple lugs and multiple wires, wherein the connectionpanel is configured to retain the lugs in a first row and a second rowand the lugs vertically aligned with each other in the first and secondrow are configured to connect to a same surge suppression module withinthe surge suppression unit.
 17. An apparatus, comprising: a chassishaving a first end and a second end and configured to retain surgesuppression devices; a connection panel attached to the first end of thechassis and configured to connect to power cables; and lugs connected tothe connection panel, wherein the lugs comprise holes in a first sideconfigured to longitudinally receive the power cables and connectorsextending from a second side configured to attach to the suppressiondevices retained in the chassis.
 18. The apparatus of claim 17, whereinthe chassis retains clips coupled to the surge suppression devices andthe connectors for the lugs comprise bus bars configured to insert intothe clips.
 19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the lugs furthercomprise: lug bodies configured to attach to the connection panel; camsconfigured to rotate inside of the lug bodies; and locking screwsconfigured to rotate the clamping cams into the holes and clamp againstthe power cables.
 20. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the lugs eachinclude a first one of the holes configured to receive and connect to afirst wire in one of the power cables and a second one of the holesconfigured to receive and connect to a second wire in one of the powercables.